Smoke alarm saves three adults from Center Harbor fire

By DAN SEUFERTUnion Leader Correspondent

CENTER HARBOR – A smoke detector likely saved the lives of three adults from a fire that burned part of their home down early Friday morning.

Fire Chief Leon Manville said town firefighters were joined by crews from eight Lakes Region fire departments in fighting a blaze that broke out at a single-family home shortly after 3 a.m. at 311 Daniel Webster Highway.

The fire started in an addition to the approximately 1,500-square-foot home, Manville said.

“It started in an addition that was up on posts, it had no foundation,” Manville said.

The cause of the fire is not known, he said, but the fire is not considered suspicious in nature.

When firefighters arrived at about 3:15 a.m., he said, there was “heavy fire in the addition.”

“We mounted an aggressive interior attack, and we were able to keep the fire from spreading too much. It was contained to the addition,” he said.

The three adults living in the home managed to get out, as one heard a smoke alarm and woke the others up. When firefighters arrived, the three occupants were outside the home, Manville said, watching the flames.

Inspectors were looking at the home Saturday morning to see if it is still inhabitable, he said. Meanwhile, the occupants of the home were being aided by the Red Cross, he said, with living arrangements.

Center Harbor firefighters were joined by fire departments from Meredith, Moultonboro, Holderness, Ashland, Laconia, New Hampton, Sanbornton and Gilford.